Branch calling and caller ID based call routing telephone features
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method performed by a web-enabled processing system connected to operate at least in part with a communication network comprising edge switches for routing calls from and to subscribers within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other edge switches or other switching facilities local or in other geographic areas, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a call in response to a calling party entering a first number, using a communications device, intended for a subscriber, the web-enabled processing system coupled to at least one switching facility of the communication network, the web-enabled processing system processing the call pursuant to at least one calling feature designated by said subscriber, where the at least one calling feature had previously been communicated to the web-enabled processing system by said subscriber via the internet;
placing at least two calls simultaneously to at least two different communications devices designated by the subscriber;
detecting that the call has been answered at one of the communications devices; and
in response to the detecting, abandoning other calls to the remaining one or more communications devices and establishing a connection between the calling party'"'"'s communications device and the answered communications device.
4 Assignments
Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A caller ID based call routing feature is described for blocked and non-blocked caller ID'"'"'s. A processing system in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) receives first identifying information for identify the source of a telephone call and associates additional information stored in a memory with the first identifying information. The additional information may be information about the calling party initially downloaded to the memory by a subscriber. Once retrieved from the memory by the processing system, the additional information may then be transmitted to the subscriber via the Internet for display on a monitor or to the subscriber'"'"'s telephone for display on a telephone display. Another feature described is a branch calling feature where the subscriber may program a processing system within the PSTN to forward an incoming call to two or more end units (e.g., telephones) simultaneously. If the call at an end unit is answered, answer supervision signaling is transmitted back to the processing system which then terminates all other calls. The processing system then connects the calling party to the subscriber. The branch calling may be made for any combination of local, long distance, and cellular telephone numbers.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method performed by a web-enabled processing system connected to operate at least in part with a communication network comprising edge switches for routing calls from and to subscribers within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other edge switches or other switching facilities local or in other geographic areas, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a call in response to a calling party entering a first number, using a communications device, intended for a subscriber, the web-enabled processing system coupled to at least one switching facility of the communication network, the web-enabled processing system processing the call pursuant to at least one calling feature designated by said subscriber, where the at least one calling feature had previously been communicated to the web-enabled processing system by said subscriber via the internet; placing at least two calls simultaneously to at least two different communications devices designated by the subscriber; detecting that the call has been answered at one of the communications devices; and in response to the detecting, abandoning other calls to the remaining one or more communications devices and establishing a connection between the calling party'"'"'s communications device and the answered communications device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A controller connected within the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and configured to perform enhanced routing operations, comprising:
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a processing system connected within the PSTN and linked via the interne for selecting at least one calling feature, the processing system configured to perform the steps of; receiving a call from a calling party, using a communications device, intended for a subscriber, whereby said processing system implements a calling feature previously designated by said subscriber via the internet; placing at least two calls simultaneously to at least two different communications devices previously designated by the subscriber; detecting that the call has been answered at one of the communications devices; and in response to the detecting, abandoning other calls to the remaining one or more communications devices and establishing a connection between the calling party'"'"'s communications device and the answered communications device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method performed by a processing system coupled to a switching facility for routing calls to edge switches or other switching facilities in local or other geographic areas, within a communication network, comprising the steps of:
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placing at least two calls simultaneously to at least two different communications devices designated by a subscriber using a communications device, the processing system processing the calls pursuant to at least one calling feature designated by said subscriber, where the at least one calling feature had previously been communicated to the processing system by said subscriber via the internet; receiving the at least two calls made simultaneously to said at least two different communications devices designated by said subscriber via the internet; detecting that one of the calls has been answered at one of the communications devices; and in response to the detecting, abandoning other calls to the remaining one or more communications devices and establishing a connection between said subscriber'"'"'s communications device and the answered communications device.
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16. A controller connected to a tandem switch within the public switched telephone network (PSTN) comprising:
a processing system linked to the internet for allowing a subscriber to select at least one calling feature over the web, the processing system configured to perform the process comprising the steps of; placing at least two calls simultaneously to at least two different communications devices designated by a subscriber using a communications device, the processing system processing the calls pursuant to at least one calling feature designated by said subscriber, where the at least one calling feature had previously been communicated to the processing system by said subscriber via the internet; receiving at least two calls made simultaneously to said at least two different communications devices designated by the subscriber via the internet; detecting that the call has been answered at one of the communications devices; and in response to the detecting, abandoning other calls to the remaining one or more communications devices and establishing a connection between the calling party'"'"'s communications device and the answered communications device.
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17. A controller connected to a switching facility allowing access to local and other geographic areas within the public switched telephone network (PSTN) comprising:
a processing system linked to the internet for allowing a subscriber to select at least one calling feature via the internet, the processing system configured to perform the process comprising the steps of; receiving a call under the control of said controller from a calling party, using a communications device, intended for a subscriber, the processing system processing the call pursuant to at least one calling feature designated by said subscriber, where the at least one calling feature had previously been communicated to the processing system by said subscriber via the internet; invoking the at least one calling feature prior to said received call reaching a terminating central office, said at least one calling feature placing at least two calls simultaneously to at least two different communications devices previously designated by said subscriber; detecting that one of at least two calls has been answered at one of the communications devices; and in response to the detecting, abandoning other calls to the remaining one or more communications devices and establishing a connection between the calling party'"'"'s communications device and the answered communications device.
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18. A method for processing an incoming call from a switching facility on a communication network that comprises edge switches for routing calls to subscribers within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to edge switches, or other switching facilities local or in other geographic areas the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first call, which is intended for a specified recipient, at a controlling device in communication with the switching facility; identifying one or more control criteria previously associated with the specified recipient, wherein the one or more control criteria was entered via a web-based interface; initiating a second call at the controlling device in accordance with the control criteria associated with the specified recipient; and connecting the first and second calls at the controlling device after the second call is received by a communication device associated with the specified recipient. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for processing an incoming call from a switching facility on a communication network that comprises edge switches for routing calls within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other geographic areas, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first call, at a controlling device in communication with the switching facility;
which is intended for a specified recipient;identifying one or more control criteria previously associated with the specified recipient, wherein the one or more control criteria are entered via a web-based interface; initiating a second call at the controlling device via a packet-based connection in accordance with the control criteria associated with the specified recipient; and connecting the first and second calls at the controlling device after the second call is received by a communication device associated with the specified recipient. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for processing an incoming call from a switching facility on a communication network that comprises edge switches for routing calls within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other geographic areas, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first call, which is intended for a specified recipient, at a controlling device in communication with the switching facility; identifying one or more control criteria previously associated with the specified recipient, wherein the one or more control criteria are previously entered via a web-based interface; and initiating one or more calls at the controlling device in accordance with the control criteria associated with the specified recipient; and if the one or more calls are not answered by the specified recipient, routing the first call from the controlling device to a voicemail server. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. A method for processing an incoming call from a switching facility on a communication network that comprises edge switches for routing calls within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other geographic areas, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first call, which is intended for a specified recipient, at a controlling device in communication with the switching facility; identifying one or more control criteria previously associated with the specified recipient, wherein the one or more control criteria are entered via a web-based interface; and routing the first call from the controlling device to a voicemail server in accordance with the control criteria associated with the specified recipient.
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46. A method for processing an incoming call from a switching facility on a communication network that comprises edge switches for routing calls within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other geographic areas, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first call, which is intended for a specified recipient, at a controlling device in communication with one of the switching facilities; identifying a control criteria previously associated with the specified recipient, wherein the control criteria is previously entered via a web-based interface and instructs the controlling device to block calls for the specified recipient; and blocking the first call received at the controlling device in accordance with the control criteria.
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Specification